What We Are Doing

More than 2,300 Chicago Public Schools students are getting college credit at 30 high schools across the city in a program that has increased threefold since it began in 2011.

CPS on Thursday unveiled its Early College Initiative program figures, showing an increase in the number of CPS juniors and seniors at participating high schools gaining free college credits.

CPS says it hopes to meet a goal of 4,000 participating students by the 2015-2016 school season. CPS began with just five participating schools and expects to have 38 schools involved by next school year.

The Dual Credit program, where students enroll in college-level courses taught by qualified CPS teachers on high school campuses will serve 1,000 students next school year. Dual Credit courses are expected to be available at 38 CPS high schools next school year, up from just five in the program’s initial year. The Mayor launched this program in 2011.

“Throughout our education system, we are creating a pathway for students to gain early exposure to college and build the skills they will need to succeed in today’s workforce,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Not only are more Chicago students on track to graduate high school, many of our students already have earned college credit that will put them on an accelerated path to success in college and a career. This program is an important strategy to reach our goal that every student is 100 percent college ready and 100 percent college bound.”